SUMMER CAN SHARPEN KIDS' ACADEMIC SKILLS

Even though most classrooms are shut down, students shouldn't plan to shut down their brains for the next three months.

Instead, parents should make sure their children enjoy a variety of academic, social and physical activities that keep their minds and bodies sharp for the coming school year, local educators advise.

"I think the cliche about if you don't use it you lose it' is true," said Frank Ellis, principal at Alma Schrader Elementary School. "Children need to keep those minds working and continue working on skills so they can have a smooth transition into the next grade level."

Local organizations like the Southeast Missouri Arts Council and Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department offer a number of summer programs for children, and Southeast Missouri State University is home to a number of academic, athletic and fine arts camps.

A number of child-care providers also offer an assortment of activities geared to spark student interest during the summer. And Brad Lyle, a salesman at Shivelbine's Music Store, said his store sees a brisk business every summer from students wanting to hone musical skills.

"We're selling sheet music, books, instruments, everything," said Lyle. "We've got kids who sometimes spend hours down here. It's been a hangout since I was a kid."

Formal programs

Most area public schools are offering short-term summer school programs to provide remedial help for children who had problems during the school year and enrichment activities for those looking for different academic activities than they normally study.

The key to making organized programming successful is to focus on activities that children are interested in, said Dr. Rita Fisher, assistant superintendent of Jackson schools.

"The more student interest the better," Fisher said. "We normally do see a lot of interest, because while they're learning they're also having fun with it."

Linda Phillips of Scott City, Mo., said summer school is a great idea but only if children want to attend. Phillips' children are attending summer school for enrichment programs this year, but she also baby-sits for a neighbor's child who wasn't interested in going.

"They shouldn't be forced to go," said Phillips. "If they stay home, they need to be kept busy, because if you let them they'll just sit and watch TV all day."

Eli Flood, 12, of Cape Girardeau said he is taking things easy this summer. He believes being a seventh-grader "is going to be a lot harder than elementary school."

Even so, he already has begun reading books in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling this summer, and he has scheduled bike-riding sessions with his friends three days each week.

"I read some, but I'm outside most of the time," said Flood.

Summer reading

Ellis, who is coordinating Cape Girardeau's elementary school summer program, said periodic vacations from school can help "to rejuvenate minds," but children need to practice skills or risk having to relearn them in the fall, which can put them behind academically.

To assist students with reading, Ellis is incorporating the Cape Girardeau Public Library's annual summer reading program into summer school activities. Children earn points in the program for reading and receive periodic incentive rewards.

"Reading is going to be our primary focus," Ellis said. "It's especially important that children read during the summer, since the state now requires schools to retain students who are more than one grade level behind in reading."

Dana McMillan, a consultant with The Learning Exchange, a Kansas City, Mo.-based educational research organization, offers a number of tips to help children "discover a love that will last a lifetime."

Reading should be fun and relaxing, she said. Families should set aside time each day for reading alone and as a group.

Weekly visits to libraries also can be a fun activity, but the trips should not be rushed, she said. Instead, children should be encouraged to play on computers, browse through books and find comfortable spots to read during the visit.

Parental involvement

Rosemary Kreiter of Cape Girardeau puts in as many as five hours daily completing educational activities with her second-grader and kindergartner during the summer.

Schools are teaching more skills earlier than ever, and it's important that parents help children keep up, she said. Watching television or playing all day will only push children back academically.

"I've always home-schooled in the summer because it gives them something to do," Kreiter said. "With the way they're teaching in schools now, if they don't keep up on it, there's no way they're going to go to college."

McMillan said many simple activities that develop key learning skills can be done in and around the home. The primary focus should be in demonstrating that learning occurs all of the time and is a lifetime activity.

For example, a customized game of I Spy can help young children remember the alphabet and learn about unfamiliar objects, and a walk around a neighborhood can help children learn directions. The board game Yahtzee provides practice with multiplication and other math skills.

Said McMillan, "The trick may be for parents to avoid stressing the learning part and allow their children to focus on the fun."

SUMMER READING TIPS

Librarians at the Cape Girardeau Public Library recommend the following books for summer reading:

Picture Books

"Very Hungry Caterpillar," by Eric Carle

"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," by Judith Viorst

"Frog and Toad" books, by Arnold Lobel

"Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak

"Rosie's Walk," by Pat Hutchins

Favorite series/characters:

Arthur, by Marc Brown

Curious George, by Margaret and H.A. Rey

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling

Mike Mulligan, by Virginia Lee Burton

Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

Amelia Bodelia, by Peggy Parish

Ramona, by Beverly Cleary

Ages 9-12/young adult

"Harriet the Spy," by Louise Fitzhugh

"A Girl Named Disaster," by Nancy Farmer

"A Wrinkle in Time," by Madeline L'Engle

"New Kid on the Block," by Jack Prelutsky

"Down a Dark Hall," by Lois Duncan

"Freaky Friday," by Mary Rodgers

"Bull Run," by Paul Fleischman

"Abel's Island," by William Steig

"Charlotte's Web," by E.B. White

"Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt!" by Jean Fritz

Tips for first-time students

* Give children a daily routine with consistent bed and wake-up times.

* Practice cooperation so children better understand how to get along with teachers and classmates.

* Help nonreaders recognize their own name. Preschool and kindergarten classrooms often label items, and it will help children to recognize their own names, even if they can't read or spell it, so that they can identify which space is theirs.

* Practice cleaning up after play, because children will be expected to do this at school. Cleanup time also is a good time to practice cooperation, colors, problem-solving and more.

* Help children learn to follow directions by playing board games or Simon Says.

Sources: Cape Girardeau Public Library, www.simplerliving.com, www.brittonkill.k12.ny.us